Chapter 89: The Weight of Command

The Total Commander and his entourage entered the battlefield.

There was no grand welcoming ceremony, no formal inspection. Upon arriving at the battleground with their airship, the Total Commander’s party immediately transitioned into a wartime footing.

“The atmosphere is a bit much, isn’t it?”

The initially chaotic mood, which had seemed almost too lax, had sunk to the depths of the ocean. As Chae-jun grumbled, Kang Ah-jun chimed in from beside him.

“Honestly, I think it was better when they first arrived. Is it really necessary for things to change so drastically just because one Total Commander showed up?”

“He didn’t even look that scary. It must be the position, right? You can’t just ignore that.”

Listening to their conversation, Sa-yoon recalled the Total Commander he had seen a few days prior. Thanks to passing through the central district at just the right moment, he had been able to observe them quite closely. The man was more ordinary than expected.

He seemed like a pleasant-looking elder in his sixties. That was the extent of Sa-yoon’s impression.

The Total Commander’s party that arrived at the battlefield was a simple group. It consisted of the Total Commander, his wife who also served as his guide, and a few secretaries. That was the entirety of the delegation for the talks.

‘Even so, shouldn’t some administrative staff accompany them to facilitate discussions and responses?’ Sa-yoon’s question was answered during the very next meeting.

“We will not accept anything they desire.”

Through the translator, the Total Commander’s resolute voice resonated.

“Negotiating with a terrorist organization is out of the question. This time, we must be prepared to completely eradicate the insidious roots of Airain. This will be an achievement that will be remembered throughout history.”

Striking the table with his hand, the Total Commander declared. His demeanor was exaggerated, as if delivering a grand speech. Sa-yoon’s gaze, however, did not linger on the Total Commander.

He kept glancing sideways at Han Do-hoon, who stood beside the commander.

After their awkward parting in the cafeteria, Han Do-hoon had kept his word. He hadn’t spoken to Sa-yoon, nor had he sought him out. Yet, there were moments when Sa-yoon felt a persistent, piercing gaze upon him.

“The main force for this operation is Esper Han Do-hoon. Other teams will lie hidden around the meeting venue and enter upon receiving the signal.”

Proudly patting Han Do-hoon’s shoulder and puffing out his chest, the Total Commander smiled brightly.

“As my most cherished Esper, I trust he will deliver excellent results.”

Stepping forward, Han Do-hoon’s focus briefly shifted towards Sa-yoon. The fleeting glance, lasting only a fraction of a second, held a distinct coldness.

“Victory awaits us. Everyone, please do your utmost in your respective positions.”

At the Total Commander’s words, the attendees clapped, agreeing with his sentiment. Amidst them, only Sa-yoon and Han Do-hoon avoided each other’s gaze while subtly observing one another.

For several hours, the Total Commander explained the operation, while a secretary beside him drew lines on a massive map as the meeting continued. Eventually, the tedious meeting concluded, and people began to leave the conference room one by one.

After everyone had departed, an familiar figure stood before Sa-yoon as he slowly made his way out.

Han Do-hoon was conversing with an unfamiliar woman. Feeling an unnecessary discomfort around Han Do-hoon, Sa-yoon turned around and concealed himself behind the opposite wall. It was a corridor he absolutely had to pass to reach his quarters, making it difficult to go elsewhere.

“You must be careful this time too.”

“You don’t need to worry about me.”

“I know. You’ll handle it well. Still, a mother can’t help but worry.”

Listening to their conversation, Sa-yoon realized who Han Do-hoon’s interlocutor was. It was Han Do-hoon’s adoptive mother, who also served as the Total Commander’s guide. She was also the benefactor who had been injured saving Han Do-hoon when he was a child.

“How is your body these days? Is guiding still difficult? We should try asking for help from another branch, even now. There might be a newly manifested guide who is compatible with you.”

“It’s due to Suppressor Rejection Syndrome, so it would be useless.”

“But you never know. What if a guide with such good synergy appeared that it could be resolved with a simple touch….”

Just hearing her voice, Sa-yoon could feel his adoptive mother’s concern. He had thought their relationship might be dry, given she adopted a teenager, but they seemed like any ordinary family.

If there was any disconnect, it was the stiffness in Han Do-hoon’s voice when addressing his mother. While it might be due to his naturally blunt personality, it still seemed a bit rude towards someone who was clearly worried about him.

“My child. I’m always worried about you. I wish you could meet a suitable partner… I don’t know how long I’ll be by your side.”

“You’re worrying too soon.”

Han Do-hoon’s adoptive mother was frail. Guides who worked in the field typically had shorter lifespans, and having been severely injured saving Han Do-hoon, her health was poorer than most. Sa-yoon had heard she even had a prosthetic hand.

“Then, I have another appointment, so I’ll be going first.”

“I’m sorry to bother you when you’re so busy. If only I were healthier, I could take care of you….”

‘Sa-yoon. I’m sorry. Your mother isn’t healthy….’

Listening to their conversation, Sa-yoon thought of his own mother. She had always worried only about her child, despite being sicker herself. With little time conscious, he had left for a distant place without even saying goodbye.

Sa-yoon lowered his head, feeling a sudden melancholy. Mothers were the same everywhere. Sa-yoon shifted his steps to the opposite end of the corridor.

He knew this direction would make his walk to the quarters more than twice as long, but he couldn’t bear to listen to their conversation any longer. It saddened him to think of his own mother, and seeing this human side of Han Do-hoon felt overwhelming.

Operation Name: Hitzewelle (Heatwave)

Units are to be deployed in multiple layers around the meeting venue. In case of emergency, they will move sequentially to the contact zone, preparing for any unforeseen ambush. A significant amount of time will be invested to completely eradicate the seeds of Airain. The operation name was chosen with a pledge to wipe out everything resembling Airain.

“What a childish name.”

“Childish and tacky.”

Sa-yoon silently nodded at his teammates’ remarks. Not only the name, but its meaning was also puerile. For an event officially designated as a peace conference, it was an excessively aggressive response.

Sa-yoon was waiting idly in the third layer where his team was deployed. Not just Sa-yoon, but all team members had been waiting in their positions since the day before.

Bored by the long wait, Sa-yoon sprawled behind a simple camouflage wall designed to block sandstorms.

Each layer surrounding the meeting venue had personnel assigned to conceal their presence. To an unsuspecting eye, it looked like a desolate, barren plain with no living creatures. Nothing could be discerned visually.

As Sa-yoon closed his eyes, he could sense the presence of people lying in wait, spaced approximately 500 meters apart.

“By the way, deploying us in the third layer? They really have no sense.”

Chae-jun grumbled. It was a complaint he had voiced countless times since the deployment roster first came out. He was annoyed, claiming it was unacceptable that their team leader was in the third layer when Han Do-hoon was handling the main force in the center of the meeting venue.

Chae-jun, whose competitive spirit flared at the mention of Han Do-hoon’s name, was thoroughly displeased with the current situation.

“Chae-jun, are you an idiot? That’s because they didn’t deploy us in order of power. Levian isn’t even on the list! If it were by power, they wouldn’t leave out an S-rank Esper.”

“To be called an idiot by Kang Ah-jun… Is this my dying day?”

“What?”

Kang Ah-jun and Chae-jun began to bicker again. With the waiting time exceeding twelve hours, everyone was just talking about anything to pass the time.

Levian, an S-rank Esper like Sa-yoon, was not deployed in this operation. He remained in the main building of the battlefield, tasked with defending it. For Sa-yoon, this was fortunate.

If he had been assigned to the same team as Levian, it would have been awkward and uncomfortable throughout the entire waiting period. Thanks to this, he was able to wait in peace.

“Just wait quietly. And this position is actually good for my ability. It’s not suited for close combat, after all.”

Sa-yoon’s team was positioned exactly in the middle of each team layer. From here, he could monitor everyone from the meeting venue to the personnel deployed in the final layer. It was a placement that clearly considered various scenarios.

Chae-jun and Kang Ah-jun stretched as they sat on the dirt ground.

“Ah, my bones are aching from waiting outside all day. I just wish it would end quickly.”

“Still, it’s better to rest while you can. And it won’t be much longer.”

The meeting venue, which had been quiet for a long time, finally showed signs of movement. First, the airship that had arrived earlier showed no change in its waiting position.

It was almost time for the meeting to begin, yet there was no sign of anyone in the vicinity. Kang Ah-jun scratched his cheek and muttered.

“Surely we haven’t all been tricked, have we?”

“Wow, that would be really embarrassing. How many people are gathered here? If we all got fooled by Airain, I don’t think we’d ever be able to show our faces again.”

Even external Espers had been brought to the battlefield for a full-scale response. If Airain failed to appear, or if they truly arrived unarmed for the talks, the Federation would be made to look foolish.

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